Leaving your dog to go to work

How many of you guys have to leave your dogs for 6 hours + whilst you work? And those that do, what do you do to keep your dogs happy whilst you're away?

I've been self employed for the past 6 months, but I am now having to go back into employment, I will be working 4 days a week with shifts varying from 8 hours to 12 hours, with a 30 minute journey there and back. We are working it between myself and my partner that she will never have to be left for more than the 8 hours, and if she does we have hired a dog walker to come in and spend half an hour with her, and let her out for a wee/give her a fresh kong (not walking her as she's is not behaviourally sound enough to be walked by anybody else)

I've ordered her a new dental kong as they fit more into them, an activity ball, "through a dog's ear" CD which plays classical music to soothe and calm (scientifically researched and saw great results in kennels) and a new teddy for snuggles with on the sofa (she loves snuggling with teddies)

Any other suggestions?

Sounds like great preparation Rach, you have everything covered.
Has she been left alone for that length of time before?   

I hope so, really don't want to leave her, but can't feed her if I don't have a job  Yeah she has, when I was fostering her she would be left for up to 11 hours a day!! But she was only at my house because the kennels were full and she would have been pts otherwise, now that she's staying long term I'd obviously never leave her that long. She coped well then, but had just gotten out of kennels so was probably just happy to have a sofa to kip on in the warm and no barking dogs around! Would run home on my lunch break and let her out for a wee, but she just slept through!

Sounds like she'll be absolutely fine.
Maybe you have a bit of time before you start the job to get her hours alone built up a bit?   

I think she will, when I'm at home she just sleeps all day anyway she's a very calm dog, but she does love her snuggles bless her! I've got a few training days before work starts and I'm still leaving her for a few hours a day to walk clients, so hoping this will help! Do you have to leave Toots very often?

We rarely have to leave Suki for long but when we do we just take for for a 2-3 hour walk before. Might not be practical but we don't often have to do it.

Fortunately she's hardly ever left. I did start when I got her leaving her for an hour or two, just because it's a good idea. Also I have another dog which helps. I'm sure she'll be fine. The music is a great idea, I still leave classical music on for the dogs at bedtime!   

Sounds like you are getting well prepared I know Bane likes watching TV so if the music doesn't work you could try that?
It would be interesting to see what everyone says. I'm about to start a full time job too and it's going to be horrible not getting to see Bane all day Even though the OH will be there in the days, I will still worry

We have luckily never been in the situation where Rocky needs to be left alone more than about 4 hours., but when we do leave him he has a classical music collection on the ipod which we leave on for him.

So long as she has a good long walk before being left she should be fine, cannot think of anything else to add to what you already do really.

Sounds like you have all the basis covered, Rach. I sometimes think we suffer with separation anxiety more than they do.

I work 12 hr shifts 0600-1800 0r 1800-0600 but they usually turn into 13 hr shifts and if the day goes really bad 14 or longer hrs. My OH does 8-10 hrs mon-Friday starting at 730am. Theres no problem when I work nights but when I'm on days I make sure they have an extra long walk the day before and also a night time walk. I come home for my 30 min lunch break but being a paramedic have no control over when that will be, break window is 0900-1100 but sometimes it wont be until 1300. My neighbour used to come over to walk Calvin 2x during my shift but now we have 2 she will pop over to fuss them and let them into the garden instead. If I didn't have my neighbour helping I would be paying for a dog walker to take them out for an hour in the middle of the day. Calvin was left with kongs and a few toys but seeing as Maya is new and settling in they will just be left alone together no toys when I have to go back to work next week.

Oh and I forgot the very very first thing to be done by whoever gets home first is to take the dogs out for atleast 1 hr

Aww Hun I'm sure bis will be fine! But as her mummy your going to worry! Sounds like you've got all the bases covered Hun, I'm lucky really Darcy is never left longer than 3/4 hours only if I go shopping! I take her with to work xxx

I think we worry more then we need to! The odd time when Moo is left I am so worried to get back to her - walk in the door and she's asleep

Sounds like you are well prepared Rach. As Bis is pretty chilled at home, Im sure she will be fine, doesn't stop you from worrying though I know.
Don't forget to video her a few times if you can to check she is not stressing and put your mind at rest. x

you got every thing covered lovey,i'm sure all will be fine,as said i think we worry more!sash is left 3 times a week for 6 hours a day,i just make sure the radio or tv are left on for her,dont know why cos im sure she does'nt watch day time telly!

Sounds like you have it all covered. I am gone from home 12 hours a day (9hrs at work, 3 hours commuting). My OH is on the road so flexible, on an average day Koda (6mths) is left from say 8am - 6pm, longer tho if my OH is inter-state. He is always SUPER excited when we get home (jumps all over us, grunts non-stop for 5 mins, tail going nuts etc.) en he calms lol. We always walk him as soon as we are homes our yard is not big. When we leave in the morn we give him a stuffed Kong, frozen Kong ring (for teething), 2 toys (a chew rope & 1 other, often a Bob-A-Lot) & hide a treat in the yard (dry liver chew or a bone). We feel super guilty but this is reality for us. I think he digs for an hour or so them sleeps all day meanwhile we are worrying & rushing home as quick as we can We make sure he gets tonnes of fussing of an evening, big walks/play runs in weekends etc. Good luck, I'm sure all will be fine

i think you be alright

When I'm on nights Ledger stays home alone, he has quite often gone up to bed before I go around 9pm and doesn't venture down til I get back at about 7.30am (I know this as his chews/biscuits are still on the rug)

On lates (upto 12-13hrs away with travel) I am starting to leave him (instead of taking him to my parents) and just have the dog walker come in for an hour her feedback is that he's usually fast asleep and she has to wake him up. I think it's more that I worry that he's more likely to be disturbed in the day postman etc knocking the door but his separation anxiety only seems to occur when I'm in the house and he can't get into the room I'm in

i work 8 hours plus sometimes pull some all nighters. but i only do it if i can have breaks that allow me to come home and walk the dogs. they have got used to it despite being quite active they sleep most of the time while im out. when they were pups i had to be arorund more but now they are just fine lazing around the house all day. i dont crate them anymore as they can be trusted apart frorm the bin which i understand is a universal dog story lol

Seems like you have thought of everything hun, sure Bis will be fine once she gets into the routine xxx

Flo gets left sometimes from 8 till 3:30. Most days I get home lunchtime and she expects a treat every day just for being home alone   

She is never left longer than that fortunately but it sounds like you have things well prepared Rach. Every time I've come home Flo is asleep and I think you'll find the same thing.

In th early days she would get up to mischief, she ate a half frozen loaf of bread once, don't ask    

I'm certain all will be fine.

You can only do the best you can do. On the one hand, yes, she would have been put to sleep without you. So, obviously, any life is better than none - is how Biscuit would think about it (I imagine) if she were capable of such thought. On the other hand, despite her poor start in life, now she's got you, that reasoning only goes so far and she deserves the best! Well, she is very lucky to have you and it sounds like you're giving her the best all the time, every day, as best you can.

If she doesnt want you to be at work, then for many people I guess they dont want to be at work either. However, our schedules are unavoidably shaped by the way we are forced to earn money to survive - and that has to be ok. I wouldnt leave her for longer than you think her bladder can comfortably manage though, without someone letting her out. What would that be? Four hours? At least at 5 (ish) years old, while still having loads of energy, she will be more sedate in her habits than a pup. It seems sad to me when people get puppies and then go out to work all day, leaving pup on its own with tons of energy to burn and no outlet.

Whatever you do, I'm sure Biscuit will be overjoyed when she hears the key in the lock when you get back.

No other suggestions but just wanted to wish you good luck in your new
job. I'm sure Biscuit will just sleep while you are out and save up all
her energy ready for when you get home   

Its just amazing how well they adapt.